Let's Knit, issue 96, September 2015

WHAT’S INSIDE

SEPTEMBER 2015

CONTENTS 35

64

47 29

WIN £1,600 WORTH OF PRIZES! TURN TO PAGE 76

67 Who cares?

...We do!

At Let’s Knit we understand that nothing is more annoying than errors in knitting patterns. As part of our total commitment to ensuring that your experience of our magazine is as enjoyable as possible, we’re proud to offer THE LET’S KNIT PATTERN PROMISE: • Exclusive patterns featured in Let’s Knit have been professionally checked and reproduced with the utmost care.

Updates can be found at www.letsknit.co.uk • Should you encounter any problems we are more than happy to provide support and assistance.

Contact us and we will endeavour to respond as soon as possible.

By email: support@letsknit. co.uk By telephone: 01206 508622 (office hours only) By post: at the address on page 95­(please mark your envelope ‘Support’) (Please note we cannot offer assistance with patterns not published in Let’s Knit)

17

13

PATTERNS 13 Fire Glow A stunning long cardigan by Jo Allport in ember colours 17 Pippa Sister of Jemima, make this adorable doll by Val Pierce 20 Write On Two fun striped pencil cases for stylish school accessories 25 Juniper Berry A casual sweater by Kelly Menzies in Rico yarn 29 Forest Fern Pat Menchini’s jacket has a flattering draped front 32 Quick-knit Cowl Using only knit and purl stitches, Kelly Menzies’ accessory is perfect for the season

47 Sparkling Seas Ocean-inspired socks with glamourous metallic highlights 53 Blackberry Babe A sweet and simple hat and cardigan from SIrdar 59 Nautical Adventure Try six different stitch patterns in this sampler cushion pattern 64 Courtney A chic jumper in luxurious Artesano alpaca yarn 67 Folk Charm Julie Ferguson’s poncho and hat set channel trendy runway style 73 Hare Style Try Swiss darning with Ella Austin’s phone cosy 77 Feline Fun Quick-to-make cat toys including mice, a fish and a ball

35 Autumn Sunrise A cosy set of a hat, cowl and wristlets by Charmaine Fletcher

81 Woodland Explorer A quirky fox headband for teens

by Nicola Valiji

39 Violet Haze Easy ribbed mittens with a cabled effect by Helen Ardley

85 Moroccan Jewel Learn new granny square motifs in Sarah Hazell’s cushion

04 www.letsknit.co.uk Contents.indd 1

24/07/2015 12:32

WHAT’S INSIDE

This month’s

32

85

FREE GIFT!

39

WIN AN iPAD!

25

81 SHOPPING 22 Back to Nature Enjoy our pick of natural fibres and animal-themed treats 56 Strands of Luxury Explore the divine world of silk yarns with our favourites 91 Royal Affair Our favourite Royal purple yarns for posh knits

70 Loving, Giving, Knitting We take a look at knitting for charity and how you can get involved

PEOPLE 50 Stop & Share Catch up with the LK community 98 Last Word We chat to Justyna Kacprzak, author of Dinosaur Amigurumi

FOCUS

IN EVERY ISSUE...

61 Tight Knit Community We chay to Jane Probitts, chair of the WI Craft Committee, in their centenary year 74 British Knitting Awards Vote for your favourite stores and companies in the awards

59

Make Hugo the Hedgehog with our sparkly eyelash yarn today!

89 Knit School Practise embroidery techniques to embellish your knitted projects

88 What’s In Store Get the hot gossip from our favourite shops around the UK

8 Let’s Knit Loves Catch up with the latest news and gossip from the knitting universe

77

TURN TO PAGE 74

3 Welcome 7 This Month’s Free Gift 10 September is the Month 38 Bookshelf 49 Coming Next Month 52 Tea Break 58­­ Subscriptions 72­­ Giveaways 92 Practical Guides 94 Step By Step

20

05 Back issues from Jan 2011 onwards are available on the Let’s Knit app! www.letsknit.co.uk Contents.indd 2

24/07/2015 12:33

LONG RIBBED CARDIGAN

Fire Glow

EXCLUSIVE TO

Jo Allport’s autumnal cardigan is perfect for the changing seasons

We love the warming colours of this longlength cardi – they remind us of crunching through autumn leaves in the park. The pattern is a variation on rib with added increases and decreases to create an eyelet pattern that looks just like flickering flames.

Make this from £17.50!

meet our

DESIGNER “I love garments that can last through the seasons, so I designed this lovely cardigan with a longer length than usual but with short sleeves. It can be worn with a strappy top and long skirt during the late summer, but has a bit of warmth if the evenings get chilly, or it can be worn through the winter with a long sleeved top, jeans and boots!”

JO ALLPORT

13 www.letsknit.co.uk

Fire glow.indd 2

24/07/2015 09:23

DELIGHTFUL KNITTED DOLL

EXCLUSIVE TO

Part one!

Pippa Get ready to meet your little one’s new best friend from Val Pierce meet our

Avid LK fans will remember back in issue 29 (that’s 2010, in case you didn’t know!),

DESIGNER

we had a pattern for a sweet little dolly called Jemima. Introducing her little sister, Pippa! She has bags of knitted charm and is sure to become your tot’s favourite plaything in no time at all.

Don’t forget to pick up a copy of our October issue, on sale 4th of September, where we will have the pattern for Pippa’s clothes.

“Take your time embroidering Pippa’s features and making sure you’re happy with the final result – it’s the finishing touches that really make a toy come to life.”

VAL PIERCE

17 www.letsknit.co.uk

pippa.indd 1

24/07/2015 15:36

SIMPLE STYLISH JUMPER

Win all the yarn to make this jumper on page 76!

EXCLUSIVE TO

Juniper Berry Kelly Menzies’ casual jumper will complete any autumn look Fall is in the air, and for knitters that can only mean one thing: to start making that new season wardrobe! With simple shaping, a two-row pattern repeat, matching sleeves and identical front and back panels, it’s an easy project even for beginner knitters about to embark on their first garment adventure. Keep an eye on your stitch count during the raglan shaping to make sure you have enough stitches to work a full pattern repeat at the end of the row.

meet our

DESIGNER “Don’t be tempted to adapt this pattern and knit it in the round – the pattern will twist out of shape and hang incorrectly. Keep it flat!”

KELLY MENZIES

25 www.letsknit.co.uk

Juniper Berry.indd 2

24/07/2015 09:16

CUTE CROPPED CARDIGAN

EXCLUSIVE TO

Forest Fern

Enjoy simple and elegant knitted fashion thanks to Pat Menchini The days are getting shorter, the greens of summer have been replaced with shades of auburn, and there’s a definite chill in the air... so it’s time to get out those needles and start crafting your first autumn cardi. With its dolman sleeves and stylish collar, this jacket will serve whatever purpose you see fit, from a casual day with friends or a more formal occasion. A great all-rounder!

Up to size 24!

meet our

DESIGNER “This is an all-seasons, unstructured, casual jacket, simple to knit in stocking stitch with an easy textured pattern.”

PAT MENCHINI

29 www.letsknit.co.uk

Woodland Fern.indd 2

24/07/2015 09:15

���� WOOL ACCESSORIES SET

Autumn Sunrise

EXCLUSIVE TO

Get ready for the new season with Charmaine Fletcher’s trio of accessories It’s always nice to feel co-ordinated when you leave the house and this matching hat, cowl and wristlets combo will put you in the right frame of mind. It’s a really simple project which combines moss and stocking stitch, while using the heather effect of the yarn to bring additional texture. Just two skeins of yarn are needed to make the full set, which includes a hat (see overleaf), but if you just want to knit one or two items, read the About the Yarn section for exact quantities.

Knit this set for under £13!

meet our

DESIGNER “The cowl is designed to stand tall like a funnel neck collar and should be worn with the tab and button to correspond with the hat.”

CHARMAINE FLETCHER

35 www.letsknit.co.uk

Early sunrise.indd 2

24/07/2015 09:21

FUN FINGERLESS MITTENS

Violet Haze

EXCLUSIVE TO

Helen Ardley’s trendy fingerless mittens are perfect for the changeable weather If you love the look of cables but aren’t quite advanced enough to tackle the tricky technique, these toasty mittens achieve a similar effect but with a fraction of the fuss. Using a great value yarn, these are a must-make budget accessory that will take you from the cool autumn mornings through to the frosty winter days and can be layered with long sleeves and gloves for extra warmth.

meet our

DESIGNER “To keep your hands nice and cosy this winter, knit yourself these stylish mittens. The stranding of the stitches on the front is easy to do so you could get these made in a few evenings. Perfect for Christmas presents as well.”

HELEN ARDLEY

39 www.letsknit.co.uk

Violet Haze.indd 2

24/07/2015 09:11

FEATURE | ON THE ROAD Stroll through Herefordshire’s picturesque villages

Step back in time at Warwick Castle

On the road:

MIDLANDS

Celebrate the yarn shops of the region in our LK nationwide tour!

West Midlands

Sitting Knitting, Sutton Coldfield This converted cottage offers a splendid choice of yarns from stash staples to luxury fibres, including British brands UK Alpaca, Fyberspates and John Arbon. If you don’t

have the internet or a printer, you can buy hard copies of online patterns as part of the Ravelry In-store Sales Program. There’s also a wide range of needles and hooks, and don’t forget to contact the team about their weekly knitting groups. 0121 308 4205, www.facebook.com/sittingknitting

Visit Evesham’s abbey gardens, Worcestershire

Arena Photo UK / Shutterstock.com

Explore the Peak District in Derbyshire

If you’re anything like us, you can’t go away – whether for week, weekend or even a day trip – without visiting a local yarn store. Spanning 11 counties, the Midlands makes up a vast section of the UK and provides plenty of opportunities to boost your crafting stash. We’ve picked a small selection of the many yarn shops, attractions and events that can be found in each county, so you can always have a knitty stop-off on your travels. To find more shops in this part of the UK, check out our brilliant map at www.letsknit.co.uk

and notions. There are regular knitting and crochet workshops and an SOS Clinic is held on Saturday mornings so stop by to find the answers to your knitting questions.

0121 628 3977, www.cityknits.co.uk

Christine’s Wool Shop, Bournville This family-run business has been trading for almost 40 years and the years of experience means the staff are in the perfect position to offer guidance and advice as you shop. There’s a wide range of yarns suitable for beginners and fibre fans, as well as inspirational patterns, needles

43 www.letsknit.co.uk

On the Road.indd 2

24/07/2015 12:24

EASY KNIT SOCKS

EXCLUSIVE TO

Sparkling Seas

Treat your feet with Jane Burns’ ocean-inspired socks Colourful socks are a great way to jazz up a simple outfit and these ones have a metallic thread running throughout to give a brilliant sparkly finish. They are knitted in a wave pattern which is achieved by dropping yarn forwards. It’s a really easy yet effective technique but if you’ve not tried it before, you may want to do a practice swatch first.

Perfect project for this stunning yarn!

meet our

DESIGNER “This sock is designed to be loose around the leg, yet the cuff is knitted quite tightly which keeps the socks up to show the pattern at its best.”

JANE BURNS

47 www.letsknit.co.uk

Sparkling seas.indd 2

24/07/2015 09:26

TRY A NEW STITCH!

Nautical Adventure Set sail on a journey of stitch discovery with Lucinda Ganderton’s cosy homeware

EXCLUSIVE TO

When you get down to it, all knitting projects – no matter how big or small – are made from a simple combination of knit and purl stitches, and this gorgeous cushion is no exception! Whether you’re a beginner looking to build on your knitting knowledge or simply want to hone your lifelong skills, this is the perfect pattern for you. Make sure you read our note about how much yarn you need before you begin.

meet our

DESIGNER “All of the patterns are made using just knit and purl stitches, so it’s much less complicated to make than you might expect.”

LUCINDA GANDERTON

59 www.letsknit.co.uk

Nautical adventure.indd 2

24/07/2015 15:23

CHIC PONCHO SET

Folk Charm

EXCLUSIVE TO

Julie Ferguson’s poncho and hat channel autumn runway style

This stylish set uses a gorgeous rustic yarn highlighted with tweed flecks for added charm. The asymmetrical poncho shape is inspired by this season’s 70s trend seen in designer fashion autumn/winter collections.

The pattern uses moss stitch, knits and purls on a slant to emphasise the chic shape. So whether you’re heading back to uni, strutting the streets of London or embracing brisk morning dog walks, this pattern will ensure that you exude new season style!

67 www.letsknit.co.uk

Folk Charm.indd 2

24/07/2015 15:45

QUICK KNITS FOR PETS

EXCLUSIVE TO

Feline Fun Your furry friends will adore Susie Johns’ cute cat toys!

Knitting for pets is enjoying something of a purple patch with lots of books on the subject hitting the shelves.

As cats don’t always enjoy playing dress up, opt for fun and colourful toys instead. Designer Susie is a true cat lover and has come up with a selection of easy makes. There are three sweet mice, a stripy ball and a fish on a fishing line, which will create hours of playtime with your pet.

Purr-fect novelty project!

77 www.letsknit.co.uk

Feline Fun NEW IDEA.indd 2

24/07/2015 09:45

TM

TM

TM

FLEO AN TU HDOI PG A DN AY GRREI B| BYEADR N C AS R

EXCLUSIVE TO

Woodland Explorer Nicola Valiji’s fox-inspired headband is perfect for playful teens The chilly mornings are on their way and this fun accessory will be perfect for keeping your teen’s ears toasty and putting a smile on their face at the same time. Using a super-value aran

Top from a selection at H&M

yarn, you can knit this in a weekend for a price that won’t damage the pocket money funds. The intarsia colourwork method is used on the white panel - remember not to pull your stitches too tightly or your fox’s face will pucker! Pick up everything you need from your local yarn shop - call 01535 609798, or visit www.stylecraft-yarns. co.uk to find a stockist in your area.

meet our

DESIGNER “This headband is a fun ear warmer for those chilly autumn days.”

NICOLA VALIJI

81 www.letsknit.co.uk

Woodland explorer.indd 2

24/07/2015 09:29

CROCHET HOME STYLE

EXCLUSIVE TO

Moroccan Jewel Try different crochet motifs in Sarah Hazell’s cosy cushion Granny squares are such an iconic design and there are so many motifs to have a go at! This

A new twist on Granny squares!

cushion uses the traditional shape on the reverse side, with circles and stripes on the front which creates a patchwork of colourful panels. Sarah Hazell is known for her brilliant colour combinations and these shades remind us of a north African adventure!

meet our

DESIGNER “It is useful to identify the first stitch of some rounds with a lockable stitch marker as this makes joining to the correct stitch easier.”

SARAH HAZELL

85 www.letsknit.co.uk

Moroccan jewel.indd 2

24/07/2015 09:25